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Hypoxic vasoconstriction increases with postnatal age in lungs from newborn rabbits
Circulation Research
|February 1, 1987
Summary
Newborn rabbit lungs show a consistent pressor response to hypoxia. This pulmonary vasoconstriction response increases with postnatal age in isolated, blood-perfused lungs.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neonatal Research
- Pulmonary Circulation
Background:
- Conflicting results exist regarding newborn pulmonary circulation's response to hypoxia.
- Previous studies in intact animals present challenges in assessing pulmonary vascular reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of postnatal age on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.
- To develop and utilize a method for studying isolated, blood-perfused newborn rabbit lungs.
Main Methods:
- Isolated, blood-perfused lungs from newborn rabbits were used.
- Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was induced by decreasing alveolar oxygen tension.
- Stimulus-response curves were generated and compared between different age groups.
Main Results:
- The pressor response to hypoxia in isolated lungs was reproducible and stable.
- Pulmonary artery pressure increased with decreasing alveolar oxygen tension.
- Lungs from older rabbit pups (10-14 days) showed a significantly greater pressor response to hypoxia than younger pups (3-8 days).
Conclusions:
- Isolated perfused newborn rabbit lungs provide a reliable model for studying pulmonary vascular reactivity.
- Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction response in newborn rabbits increases with postnatal age.